Direct observation of the influence of cardiolipin and antibiotics on lipid II binding to MurJ

Most steps in peptidoglycan biosynthesis are understood, but the lipid II binding properties to the flippases MurJ and FtsW remain unknown. Now, it has been shown that lipid II exhibits preferential binding to MurJ, which is modulated by ramoplanin and cardiolipins. These insights into the lipid II binding determinants suggest roles for lipids in regulating substrate binding.